All the lights off except the Christmas tree lights, Life Saver Storybooks, my sister and my cousins and me, all in matching jammies, my Dad in his Santa hat, making his "Grinchyclaus" face, Grandmama Clover making the orange juice (from frozen concentrate!) in the blender on Christmas morning, because the four granddaughters loved it frothy, the December night I told Al I loved him for the first time (many long months after he'd said it to me first, poor Al!) and how very much I knew I meant it, and our wedding two Christmases later.

A Christmas tradition when I am at my parents home is that my baby brothers (now 19 and nearly 17) spend the night in my room, and then we get up at around 5/5:30 and the youngest plays Christmas music on the piano while we sing at the top of our lungs until our mother offers to placate us with party mix. Eventually, an hour later she gives up and we go upstairs to open gifts in a circle, drinking in hot coffee and then have a huge Christmas breakfast. I'm a wee bit sad to not be there this year, but I'm thinking of calling and singing to them over the phone. You know, cause they'd miss it. :)

I remember the year all I wanted was a microscope, and on Christmas eve we got to pick one present to open. My brother had told me which gift was the microscope, and I was SOO excited!!! I tore into it! It was a pair of black boots lined with grey sweater material. I can still hear my evil brother laughing! :o){and nope, I never did get the microscope} He is lucky I still adore him.

I remember sneaking out of bed on Christmas, usually around 3am. Every year, even in high school. I had to see the tree and stocking in their full, packed glory, in the dark, just as Santa left them...

Wishing you and your family a joyous day, Steph. It's going to be beautiful, you'll see.